Sport24.az
An interview with Seymur Beydamirov, who works as a goalkeeper coach at the "Sumgayit" Football Academy, to Sport24.az - How do you assess the overall level of goalkeepers in Azerbaijan at the moment? What is the difference between the Premier League and the lower leagues? - The difference is huge. First of all, I must mention quality and infrastructure. There is a big difference in level. The level of legionnaires is felt. Finance also plays an important role. The players' approach is also different. Currently, the overall level of goalkeepers in Azerbaijan is average. I think that local goalkeepers should be given a chance. The clubs that are in the top four in the championship are ambitious. There are also those who play for the championship. They put legionnaire goalkeepers. But at least those who are in the lower ranks, for example, how true is it for "Karvan-Yevlakh" to compete with a legionnaire goalkeeper? A striker can be a legionnaire. I think Azerbaijani goalkeepers should be given a chance. - In recent years, there has been a lack of high-level goalkeepers who could be stable candidates for the national team. What do you think is the main reason for this? Infrastructure, training methodology, or selection process? - Infrastructure is very important. If you want to develop a goalkeeper from a young age. He must go through good coaches until he reaches a great age. For this, it is important to have a normal infrastructure. - What are the problems with goalkeeper training in children's football? To what extent does the lack of goalkeeper coaches in the regions affect this? - Not only in the regions, but there is a great lack of goalkeeper coaches in our country. Looking at the categories, goalkeeper courses started a little late. I hope that goalkeeper coach courses will be held more often. There will be more goalkeeper coaches in our country. - You said that some clubs give preference to foreign goalkeepers. If you talk in more detail, how should this balance be regulated? - It can be regulated. A goalkeeper cannot be given a chance at any moment. They get a chance to form when the main goalkeeper is injured or penalized. We also have qualified goalkeeper coaches. They can regulate better. God willing, we will think of something to eliminate such a problem in the future. - In modern football, a goalkeeper is now required not only to make saves, but also to build the game with his feet. How ready are our goalkeepers in this regard? - We tell our players in the lower age groups. The poor quality of the stadiums prevents players from doing what they want. We cannot demand too much from a goalkeeper in the lower age group to play with his feet. We do foot exercises, we involve goalkeepers in team training. We demand. But it is difficult to do this in any stadium. I cannot demand this on a field with bad grass cover. - Are there any goalkeepers that you consider promising in the Premier League or in lower age groups? What is the main feature that distinguishes them from others? - Of course, there are such goalkeepers. I can give Khayal Feyzullayev, a graduate of our academy, as an example. He is currently in the main team of "Sumgayit". I can mention the name of Rza Jafarov. He is our promising goalkeeper. I want to mention Habib Huseynov from "Gabala". There is Aykhan in "Turan Tovuz" U-19. Murad Agamaliyev is also promising in "Sumgayit". There are goalkeepers I know. God willing, they will have a great career in the future. - What is the main feature that distinguishes the goalkeepers you mentioned from others? - I don't want to infringe on anyone's rights. But first of all, it is the approach. Their approach, their willingness, their self-confidence, their serious approach to training, etc. - You also work in the "Baku Sporting" club, which plays in the I League. How do you see the team's prospects of winning a ticket to the Premier League? - I work as a goalkeeper coach in "Baku Sporting". We go to every game for three points. We are fighting. We will see together what will happen in the future.
